We traveled on aspects ranging W to N to E in Grizzly Gulch, Wolverine Cirque, and Figure 8 hill. In our snowpit at 9930' on a NE aspect, we found 285cm of snow with 2 notable weak layers in the top 1.5m. A 4cm layer of buried rounding facets was found buried 37cm down and a 4cm layer of 4mm graupel was observed buried 103cm from the top of the snowpack. Some rounded grains were also observed in both layers and showed signs of gaining strength. An extended column test yielded a non-propagating fracture with moderate force (13 taps) within the top 20cm of the snowpack.

The key message with this PWL problem in the Central Wasatch seems to be uncertainty. In this one spot with a deep snowpack (285cm), the weak layers with unreactive and showed signs of rounding. However, I would still be suspicious of thinner slopes where these grains have not been able to heal (round).

Photo 1: 4mm graupel buried 103cm from top of snowpack on 2mm crystal card grid